Stephanie Resnick to ReceiveO'Connor Award at June Event

Stephanie Resnick, chair of the Litigation Department at Fox Rothschild LLP and chair of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2008, has been announced as the recipient of the 2010 Sandra Day O’Connor Award...READ MORE

Register for Bench-Bar and Annual Conference at Borgata

Registration is now open for the Bar Association's Bench-Bar and Annual Conference at The Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J. on Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16.

The Association’s Bench-Bar Conference features a large selection of continuing legal education seminars for practitioners in a variety of areas and topics. There is ample opportunity for attorneys to mingle and network with their colleagues and members of the bench. Vice Chancellor John E. Savoth and Board of Governors Vice Chair Regina M. Foley are co-chairs of the 2010 conference.

Full-conference admission is $349 for members and $399 for non-members, if reserved by the early bird deadline of Friday, Sept. 17. For members of the Young Lawyers Division and government and public interest attorneys, admission is only $199. Visit philadelphiabar.org for a complete registration form and pricing guide.

Hotel reservations must be made separately by calling The Borgata directly at 1-866-692-6742. Guests must reference the Philadelphia Bar Association to receive the special rate. Discounted rooms are available from Thursday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 16. if booked by Friday, Sept. 17.

Bar Association to Host Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

The Philadelphia Bar Association will host a public hearing of the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, April 19 at 9 a.m. at the Association's headquarters in the 11th floor Conference Center.

The hearing will address reforms of the city courts. Those expected to testify include Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery; Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams; Philadelphia Chief Defender Ellen Greenlee; and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts Executive Director Lynn Marks.

Members are invited to attend. Inquiries regarding testifying should be directed to Sen. Stewart Greenleaf's office at (215) 657-7700.

Get Online Access with Legal Directory Purchase

Order The Legal Directory 2010 today to start taking advantage of this indispensable multi-platform legal resource. With this package, you'll receive access to the online directory; a mobile application so you can search entries on-the-go (new for 2010); and the print directory.

Using a laptop or desktop? The Legal Directory 2010's Web site (thelegaldirectory.org) is a fast, convenient way to not only find attorneys and firms, but to update your own information all year long.

Our new mobile feature, tailored for use on your BlackBerry, lets you access The Legal Directory 2010's lawyer and law firm listings wherever there's an Internet connection. It's interactive: select a phone number and your device will call it; tap an e-mail address, and your device will generate an e-mail screen.

The print version of The Legal Directory 2010 lets you access all the information you need and rely on: find judges, complete with addresses and phone numbers, look up government agencies or corporate counsel and find alternative dispute resolution options - it's all there in one volume.

All three resources offer revamped Areas of Concentration (AOC). This code at the end of a listing tells you an attorney's specialty. Organized by category, the new, enhanced list more closely reflects the current legal environment, helping you find the exact attorney and area of expertise you need. Every lawyer listing comes with a free AOC.

The cost for all three platforms is just $79.95 (plus shipping and sales tax).

Author Amy Bach to Discuss New Book April 13

Attorney and journalist Amy Bach will discuss her groundbreaking new book Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court at a Tuesday, April 13 plenary session of the Public Interest Section, in partnership with the Criminal Justice Section and the Young Lawyers Division.

A wine-and-cheese reception will follow the discussion, which begins at 4 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and there will be an opportunity to have books purchased signed by the author. Click here to RSVP.

Volunteer Training for Citizenship Project April 13

A training session will be held Tuesday, April 13 for attorneys interested in helping immigrants become American citizens.

The training, in fee waivers and citizenship procedure, will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. at the offices of Duane Morris LLP, 30 S. 17th St. Please bring your own lunch.

National Pro Bono Citizenship Weekend in Pennsylvania will be held Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18. Attorneys who participate in citizenship day provide pro bono service working with at least one applicant, assisting the person complete the citizenship application. This year we are targeting eligible immigrants of limited means in Philadelphia (Saturday, April 17) and Allentown with our community and law school partners.

Fair Market Value Process April 15

The Health Care Law Committee will present "Fair Market Value Process and Pitfalls: A Practical Approach" with Clifford Simmons on Thursday, April 15.

Simmons will discuss areas of health care compliance that involve the determination of "fair market value," focusing on many of the various FMV engagements and the associated issues and challenges.

The meeting begins at 8:45 a.m. in the 10th floor Board Room of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Breakfast will be provided, courtesy of the Business Law Section. Click here to RSVP.

District Office and Payment Center Issues April 16

Area Director Jim Riley, representatives from district office management and three representatives of the Philadelphia Payment Center will be the guest speakers at the Friday, April 16 meeting of the Social Security Disability Benefits Committee.

The meeting begins at 12 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $8 for those members who register in advance. Click here to RSVP.

Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Training April 16

The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program, instituted in April 2008 by the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, has provided hundreds of homeowners an opportunity to negotiate face to face with lenders' representatives to save their homes from foreclosure.

Judge Annette M. Rizzo and Philadelphia VIP are asking attorneys to volunteer for the Philadelphia Foreclosure Rescue Effort (Philly FReE). VIP administers the pro bono legal assistance component of Philly FReE, providing training and ongoing support to attorneys who wish to contribute their time to this important effort. Since the inception of the program in June 2008, more than 350 attorneys have been trained. Those attorneys have helped more than 1,400 homeowners save their homes and provided valuable assistance or in attaining a "graceful exit."

The mortgage foreclosure diversion program needs the investment of many pro bono attorneys to help clients negotiate an affordable loan modification, payment arrangement, or other workout option.

Here's how you can get involved. Volunteers can receive one CLE credit for each hour of course work attended (three hours total) by representing two different clients from one or more mortgage foreclosure conciliation conferences on a continuing basis until the attempted negotiation is resolved, or volunteering as an on-call attorney at three different conciliation conference half-day sessions. This must occur within six months of the training session.

The next training session will be held Friday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at PECO/Exelon, 2301 Market St. The presenters will be Alfonso Madrid, Robin Brunson and Andrea Saah. The training will consist of a panel presentation and a participatory case study. Breakfast will be provided by PECO/Exelon. You will receive three free hours of CLE if you fulfill the CLE requirements described above.

If you wish to register for this training, please e-mail phillyvip@phillyvip.org and provide your name, address, telephone number, and firm (if applicable).

VIP would like to thank PECO/Exelon for hosting the training and providing breakfast.

Essay Contest Deadline Extended to April 16

Entries will be accepted until Friday, April 16 for the 2010 Edward F. Chacker Essay Contest, for high school seniors who attend public, parochial, charter or private schools in Philadelphia.

Named for past Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Edward F. Chacker, the 2010 contest offers a $1,000 college scholarship. Students are asked to write an essay of at least 1,000 words on the question: "If you were chosen to advise soon-to-be United States citizens at their naturalization ceremony, what would you tell them their responsibilities are as a United States citizen? Why are these responsibilities important?"

The winner will receive his or her award at the naturalization ceremony at the Federal Courthouse on May 3, 2010. Submissions should include the student's name, address, telephone number and school on a cover sheet accompanying the essay. All entries must be received by Michael Petitti at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 by 12 p.m. on Friday, April 16, 2010. Essays can be e-mailed to chackeressay@philabar.org. Please keep quotations to a minimum. Click here for a printable essay flyer.

Bankruptcy Law and Practice for Students April 21

The Business Law Section and Bankruptcy Law Committee will present "Focus on Bankruptcy Law and Practice," part of its Practicing Business Law Series for Law Students on Wednesday, April 21.

The program will be an informal discussion on commercial and consumer bankruptcy law and practice. Lunch will be served. Dress is casual but neat.

The program begins at 12:30 p.m. at the offices of Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin, One Logan Square, 27th Floor. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required. Please contact Sarah McCarthy at smccarthy@mmwr.com to register.

Update on Current Middle Market April 21

Kevin Rudd and Tom Harvey will present an update on the current middle market mergers and acquisitions environment and outlook for 2010 at the Wednesday, April 21 meeting of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee.

The meeting begins at 12 p.m. at the offices of Dilworth Paxson LLP, 1500 Market St., Suite 3500E. RSVP to Donna Kearse at 215-575-7076 or by e-mail to dkearse@dilworthlaw.com. Lunch will be provided.

Avoiding Medicare Problems When Settling Cases

The Workers' Compensation Section will present the lunchtime CLE "Avoiding Medicare Problems When Settling Your Cases" on Wednesday, April 21.

The featured panelist for the program is James E. Pocius. This CLE program will address Medicare Part D Coverage which went into effect in 2006 and the issues that arise when attempting to settle a case involving Medicare benefits. The presentation will also include a discussion of Medicare set-asides. Other topics to be discussed include Medicare's interests in settlements; update on Medicare recovery cases; SCHIP Reporting; and settlement strategies.

The program has been approved for 1.0 substantive CLE credit. Participants wishing to receive the CLE credit will be required to pay a fee of $25 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for more than five years and $20 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for less than five years. Click here to register for CLE credit.

Registration and lunch begins at 12 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $8 for those members who register in advance. Click here to purchase lunch for this program.

International Business Initiative Meeting April 22

The International Business Initiative Committee will discuss issues regarding current clients and cases in international business and about the goals for the Initiative at its April 22 meeting. Its goals include increasing expertise and knowledge about international business, making Philadelphia more of a site for international business and bringing jobs to the Philadelphia area, increasing business in other countries, helping clients here expand internationally and building and expanding relationships around the world.

The panel will answer questions regarding what they are looking for in terms of commentary, how best to contact them and build relationships, the types of stories that catch their attention and what not to do or say when communicating with the media.

The program will take place from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St., in the 11th Floor Conference Center. Click here to register. For more information about the Bar-News Media Committee, contact Committee Chair Gina Furia Rubel at Gina@furiarubel.com.

Earth Day Event April 24

The Philadelphia Bar Association will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by planting trees on the morning of Saturday, April 24. Please join the Green Ribbon Task Force in helping make Philadelphia greener.

We will be planting root trees at three locations in and around Philadelphia and no experience or heavy lifting is necessary. You and your family and friends are all welcome and encouraged to participate. If you are interested in volunteering, click here to register. For questions, please contact Kim Jessum at kjessum@stradley.com or call 215-564-8165.

The two Philadelphia locations are Fairmount Tree Tenders, 24th and Aspen streets, at 9 a.m. and Graduate Hospital Tree Tenders, 22nd and Bainbridge streets, at 10:30 a.m. A third location has been added in East Lansdowne at the municipal parking lot just east of Lewis Avenue on the north side of Baltimore Avenue at 9 a.m.

If you have a pickup truck, please contact us if you can help pick up the trees on April 23 from the Naval Yard. Donations are welcome to help us purchase food and beverages for all volunteers, as well as mulch for the tree pits. Donations of mulch for the tree pits are welcome. Donations of cookies, muffins, other treats or cases of water for volunteers are welcome.

Consider lending any tools you may have. We need round-head shovels and square-head shovels (very important); picks; sledgehammers; work gloves; a wheelbarrow; brooms; and hoses and connection to a water supply or water buckets to water trees.

Be Your Own Advocate April 27

Communications expert Jerza Kaye will be the guest speaker at the Tuesday, April 27 Women in the Profession Committee meeting "Be Your Own Advocate."

Kaye will show you how to develop a clear, authoritative and feminine speaking style that works. She'll also share a simple, effective way to make your point, state your success stories, win the respect of clients and colleagues, and ask for (and get!) what you want. Don't miss this opportunity to take your public speaking skills to the next level, and have fun doing it!

The meeting begins at 12 p.m. in the 10th floor Board Room of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $8 for those members who register in advance. Click here to register.

YLD Seeks Law Week Volunteers April 26-May 3

Volunteer Philadelphia lawyers of all ages are needed to offer free legal advice, visit high school classes, guide children on tours of the city's courtrooms, and present mock criminal trials for grade school students in celebration of Law Week 2010, an annual occasion marked by the Philadelphia Bar Association and YLD through a host of special events and services reaching thousands of citizens.

The weeklong fest is one of the most ambitious public outreach efforts of its type in the nation. All of the Law Week activities are under the direction of Bar Association Chancellor-Elect Rudolph Garcia, and are coordinated by the Association's Young Lawyers Division with the help of scores of lawyer-volunteers. The Law Week 2010 co-chairs are Carey Chopko and Kelly Gastley.

The following is a schedule of Law Week activities and contact information for those interested in volunteering:

 Lawyer in the Classroom, Monday, April 26, through Thursday, April 29: Monday kicks off a weeklong series of visits to Philadelphia school classrooms by volunteer lawyers with the Lawyer in the Classroom program. As part of this program, lawyers will enthusiastically visit different schools throughout the week to address students' concerns about the law and the legal issues that affect them as they enter adulthood and answer questions about the legal profession.

 Legal Advice Live!, Monday, April 26: At lunchtime, dozens of Philadelphia attorneys will gather to provide free, in-person legal advice during the Legal Advice Live! program, from 12 to 2 p.m. at five different branches of the Philadelphia Library, including the Central branch. Attorneys will provide answers to legal questions on a broad range of topics including personal injury, medical malpractice, landlord/tenant law, divorce and child custody matters, wills and estate planning, real estate law and employment law.

Also on Wednesday, April 28, free legal advice will be given to those who call the Legal Line hotline. From 5 to 8 p.m., area residents can call lawyers at 215-238-6333 and have their legal questions answered confidentially without a fee. The lawyers will staff a phone bank at the headquarters of the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor.

If you are interested in volunteering for Legal Line, please contact Roxane Crowley.

 Lawyer for a Day, Friday, April 30: Volunteer attorneys and judges pair with high school students and "show them the ropes" of their jobs by taking them into the courts during the Lawyer for a Day program. Several city courtrooms will be open to allow the participants to observe the proceedings. The students will meet the lawyers and judges and will participate in a concluding lunch, during which the students will recount their experiences and hear from a special guest speaker.

 "Goldilocks" and "The Big Bad Wolf" Mock Trials, Friday, April 30: Volunteer attorneys will use the facts of the well-known fairytales "Goldilocks" and "The Three Little Pigs" as the basis for mock criminal trials during the "Trials of Goldilocks" and the "Big Bad Wolf" program, taking place at seven different City Hall courtrooms. Volunteers will act as prosecutors, defense attorneys and witnesses in the criminal trials, which include opening statements, examinations and cross-examinations of witnesses, closing arguments, and instructions of the juries. At the conclusion of each trial, the students act as the jury and determine whether the Big Bad Wolf or Goldilocks is guilty of a crime.

While no volunteers are needed, on Monday, May 3, a Naturalization Ceremony will welcome dozens of new United States citizens at the U.S. Courthouse, 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia, at 10:30 a.m. Here the the winner of the Edward F. Chacker Essay Contest will read his or her essay. For additional information, click here.

Ginsburg Legal Writing Competition Entries Due May 10

Entries are being accepted for the Philadelphia Bar Association's Eighth Annual "Pursuit of Justice" Legal Writing Competition in honor of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The competition is open to full- and part-time law students who are in their second or third year of study during the 2009-2010 academic year at one of the following schools: Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Rutgers University School of Law - Camden, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Villanova University School of Law and Widener University School of Law (Delaware Campus).

Click here for a link to the contest rules. Entries must be received by Monday, May 10 at 4 p.m.

The Bar Association recognizes the importance of excellence in legal analysis and writing skills, and seeks to award a student enrolled in an American Bar Association-approved area law school for authoring a top-quality competition submission.

Part-time law students in their third or later year of study are also eligible. Students must be in good standing at their institutions. The submission may not have been published previously, although it may have been prepared in connection with a law school course or for a law journal. The submission also may not have been submitted for any other competition during the time when it is under consideration for this competition, until after the time when awards are announced. The submission must be the work of one author alone (joint submissions will not be considered), and the author must certify that the submission has been prepared without substantial editing from others.

Candidates may submit a law review quality submission on any topic relating to rights, privileges and responsibilities under federal law. The author of the winning submission will receive a cash award of $2,500, the publication of the winning submission on the Bar Association's Web site and/or in an appropriate Bar Association publication. The winner will be presented with the award at the Association's Quarterly Meeting in October.

The co-chairs of the competition are Kathleen D. Wilkinson, partner at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker LLP and Secretary of the Association, and Diane Penneys Edelman, assistant dean for international programs and professor of legal writing, Villanova University School of Law.

Sen. Michael Stack to Speak May 12

Pennsylvania state Sen. Michael Stack of the 5th District will address "From the National Guard to Guarding our Tax Dollars: A Public Servant's Role" at the Wednesday, May 12 meeting of the Government and Public Service Lawyers Committee.

Sen. Stack was elected to his third term in the state Senate in November 2008. His district includes Northeast Philadelphia, Port Richmond, Bridesburg and Kensington. He serves as a captain in the armed forces in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He graduated from the Officers Basic Course competing with soldiers 20 years his junior. Sen. Stack serves as Democratic Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Democratic Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee.

The event will be held in the Association's 11th Floor Conference Center at 12 p.m. Lunch is available for purchase for $8 if reserved in advance. Click here to register online.

Bar Association's 31st Annual 5K Run/Walk May 16

There will be several competitive divisions with a 5K run competition for all runners, a 5K run competition for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association only. There will be both legal team competition and corporate team competition.

5th Annual YLD Comedy Night and Silent Auction May 22

Join the YLD for a night of laughs at its 5th Annual Comedy Night and Silent Auction, on Saturday, May 22, headlined by Dan Cummins, star of "Comedy Central Presents Dan Cummins" who has also appeared on "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and NBC's "Last Comic Standing." The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Franklin Institute and benefits the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

With a knack for writing crisp, absurd jokes and captivating audiences with his laid-back signature delivery, Dan Cummins is standing out amongst his stand-up peers. In 2005, Dan introduced himself to the national comedy scene by performing in the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival's New Faces showcase. Soon after, in 2006, Dan made his national television debut on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," and then made his Comedy Central debut on "Live at Gotham."

The YLD's 5th Annual Comedy Night and Silent Auction includes an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction and a DJ. Register online here ($65 before May 7; $80 after; registration deadline May 17, no walk-ins). Download the official event flyer here. All proceeds benefit the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

Judge Michel was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in March 1988. He became chief judge on Dec. 25, 2004 and since then has served as one of 27 judges comprising the Judicial Conference of the United States, the governing body of the judicial branch. In 2005 he was appointed by the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to serve on the seven-judge Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference.

Admission to the event is free, but registration is required. To register, click here.

Resnick to Receive O'Connor Award at June Quarterly

Stephanie Resnick, chair of the Litigation Department at Fox Rothschild LLP and Chair of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2008, has been announced as the recipient of the 2010 Sandra Day O’Connor Award.

The award is conferred annually on a woman attorney who has demonstrated superior legal talent, achieved significant legal accomplishments and has furthered the advancement of women in both the profession and the community. The Women in the Profession Committee established the award in 1993 to recognize the important contributions that women attorneys in Philadelphia have made to the legal profession. The award presentation will be made during the June Quarterly Meeting.

Resnick served as chair of the Federal Courts Committee in 2004, the liaison between the federal bench and its practitioners. She was responsible for program planning, communication between the bench and bar on strategic initiatives, and professional development and education. In 1997, she served as chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention (Judicial Commission), having served as a member of the Commission from 1995 through 1998. From 1988 through 1994, she was a member of the Investigative Division of the Judicial Commission. In that role, she investigated the background of judicial candidates seeking election and reported those findings to the Judicial Commission.

Resnick was appointed trustee of the Campaign for Qualified Judges in 1996 and was also appointed by the then president judge of the Court of Common Pleas to the Task Force on Gender Fairness in the Courts. She also served as co-chair of the Women's Rights Committee, and as a member of the Professional Responsibility, Professional Guidance and Fee Disputes Committees.

Visit philadelphiabar.org to order tickets for the June Quarterly Meeting once they become available.

Bar Association Night at the Phillies June 9

Join your friends and colleagues at Bar Association Night at the Phillies on Wednesday, June 9 as the defending National League champions take on the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets are $26 each and a $6 handling fee will be included per order. A portion of all ticket sales will benefit the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and the SeniorLAW Center. Click here to purchase your tickets online.

For questions or to order tickets by phone please contact Kaitlyn Finley in the Phillies Sales Office at (215) 463-5000, extension 5110. The deadline to order tickets is Monday, May 10.

How to Handle Child Abuse Case CLE April 26

The Support Center for Child Advocates will hold a volunteer training CLE workshop "How to Handle a Child Abuse Case" on Monday, April 26.

This course provides certification for eligibility to receive court appointments for dependency cases in Philadelphia County. Join us for this volunteer workshop and hear experts in the field of child advocacy explain how you can make a difference in the lives of child victims. This program has been approved for 5 hours of CLE credit in substantive law and 1 hour in ethics.

The program begins at 9 a.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets. Click here to register.

Public Interest Events, Trainings Set

 The Support Center for Child Advocates will hold its Annual Benefit Reception & Silent Auction on Wednesday, April 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Crystal Tea Room, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia. At this event, SCCA will honor seven Distinguished Advocates for Children and present the 2010 Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award to Gov. Edward G. Rendell for his extraordinary career of service to children and families (schedule permitting). For ticket and sponsorship information contact Kristyn DiDominick at kdidominick@advokid.org or 267-546-9211, or visit www.advokid.org.

 Philadelphia VIP will host a CLE training program on how to handle a case in the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Project, the mandatory negotiation program operated by the First Judicial District. The event will be held Friday, April 16 at PECO/Exelon, 2301 Market St. A free continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9 a.m. The CLE training program will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will receive one free CLE credit for each hour of course work attended (a total of three free CLE credits are available) in exchange for representing two different clients at one or more mortgage foreclosure conciliation conferences on a continuing basis until the attempted negotiation is resolved, or in exchange for volunteering as an on-call attorney at three different conciliation conference half-day sessions. Volunteer work must be completed within six months of the training program. Register at phillyvip@phillyvip.org or by calling 215- 523-9550. For more information, please contact Doug Schairer at 215-523-9569.

 SeniorLAW Center will celebrate its work with the live music of CTO Park Avenue and dancing for all ages at its "SENIOR PROM," a special event that will be held Friday, April 23, from 6 to 11 p.m., at The Westin Philadelphia, 99 S. 17th St. at Liberty Place. Kids (and prom queens) are welcome! Prom attire is optional! For more information and tickets, call Larry Felzer at (215) 701-3203 or e-mail at lfelzer@seniorlawcenter.org.

 The Support Center for Child Advocates will present its pro bono training program, "How to Handle a Child Abuse Case," on Monday, April 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th floor of the Wanamaker Building. Five substantive and one ethics CLE credits are available. Register online at www.pbi.org or by calling 1-800-932-4637.

 HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia will hold its annual event, Building Bridges, Opening Doors, on Tuesday, April 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Union League of Philadelphia. This event will feature a performance by Eddie Bruce, a nationally known singer and bandleader. HIAS and Council will honor Dechert LLP; Rue Landau, the executive director of Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations; Anuj Gupta, deputy commissioner for the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspection; and Dr. Lena Allen Shore, a holocaust survivor, poet and humanitarian. Tickets are $118 per person and $60 per person for nonprofit employees. For ticket information, please contact Sarah Peterson at speterson@hiaspa.org or 215-832-0920.

 Philadelphia VIP will host a CLE training session on tax controversies on Friday, April 30 to help attorneys learn methods and skills required to represent low-income workers facing IRS compliance actions. This event will be held from 12 to 2:15 p.m. at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP, 1701 Market St. The trainers will be Keith Fogg and Linda Love Vines from Villanova Law School. For more information and to register, e-mail phillyvip@phillyvip.org or call 215-523-9550.

Brandeis Foundation Scholarship Luncheon April 20

The Louis D. Brandeis Law Society Foundation will have its Second Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Tuesday, April 20, at 12 p.m. at the Union League of Philadelphia, Broad and Sansom streets.

The Third Annual Hon. Abraham J. Gafni Award will be presented, and the Second Annual Hon. Sandra Mazer Moss Award will also be presented to deserving law students selected from the five area law schools.

Members of the bench, bar and public are invited to attend. For more information, contact Louis W. Fryman, president of the Foundation, at 215-864-8089 or Mitchell H. Klevan, treasurer, at 215-568-4980. The charge for members and guests is $75. Tickets for judges, law clerks and public interest attorneys are $37.50. Kosher meals will be available upon request.

FJD E-Filing Training Session April 22

The First Judicial District will hold a training session on electronic filing on Thursday, April 22.

Electronic filing of all civil matters became mandatory in January 2009. This program will provide in-depth instruction on the use of the electronic filing system. It was designed to allow for the filing of all civil cases and legal document via the Internet from anywhere at any time. The system currently provides attorneys and litigants with unlimited online access to all papers and legal documents filed in their cases.

The program begins at 9 a.m. in Conference Room 380 of City Hall. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Click here for an electronic fillable registration form. Completed registration forms can be e-mailed to Kara.behlau@courts.phila.gov. The cost of the program is $125 and includes and electronic version of the e-filing manual. The program has been approved for 3 substantive CLE credits.

National Legal Panel on GLBT Equal Rights April 28

Equality Forum 2010, in collaboration with the Williams Institute, will hold a National Legal Panel that explores the role that America's judicial system plays in the GLBT community's fight for equal rights on Wednesday, April 28.

The program will be moderated by Brad Sears, executive director of the Williams Institute. Panelists include Toni Broaddus, executive director of Equality Federation; Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal; James Esseks, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and AIDS Project of the American Civil Liberties Union; and Prof. Nancy Polikoff, American University Washington College of Law.

The program begins at 7 p.m. at Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. The event is free of charge. For more information, visit equalityforum.com.

Women in Law Leadership Academy April 29-30

The American Bar Association Commission on Women and Young Lawyers Division will present the fourth Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Academy on April 29-30 in Philadelphia. Realize your leadership potential, learn how to develop business and take your career to the next level.

The WILL Academy empowers and trains women lawyers to achieve success and leadership skills. You will receive practical advice from and have the opportunity to network with prominent judges, general counsels and practitioners from around the country. You will participate in a number of interactive and highly informative programs that address a wide range of important and cutting-edge subjects.

The Academy will be held at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St. and is co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Click here to download the Academy brochure. For more information about the 2010 Women in Law Leadership Academy, click here.

Roberta D. Liebenberg, a senior partner at Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C., is chair of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. Maria A. Feeley, a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, is co-chair of the 2010 Women in Law Leadership Academy, as well as the Philadelphia liaison to the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession.

See the Reality of an End to Breast Cancer with 20/20 Action

In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure,® Race supporters are asking everyone to focus on the reality of a world without breast cancer with 20/20 vision by taking $20/20 action.

Simply ask 20 people to donate $20 to your Race for the Cure fundraising campaign, and you’ve raised enough to potentially fund, through the Affiliate’s community grants program, four life-saving mammograms or eight clinical breast exams for women in need. Much more than a one-day event, the Race for the Cure is a community movement to empower each other, and the world, in the fight against breast cancer. Get all the fun details and register today at www.Race.KomenPhiladelphia.org. Take pride in making a difference, Mother’s Day, May 9, Eakins Oval/Philadelphia Museum of Art.

16th Annual Employment Law Institute April 13-14

The 16th Annual Employment Law Institute is the event of the year for anyone who represents employers and employees. More than 60 sessions are offered on crucial topics to employment law practice. Choose the ones that appeal most to you and register today so we can save a spot for you. This 12 CLE credit hour program will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, April 13-14, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch streets, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. Check in begins at 7:45 a.m., both days. For additional information, or to register, click here. Workshop choices determine whether credits are in substantive law, practice and procedure or ethics, professionalism or substance abuse.

Upcoming CLE

The following courses are cosponsored by the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. All courses are at The CLE Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building, except as otherwise noted. Registration begins 30 minutes before course start time.

*Earn as many as 4 credits on your computer, at your convenience at PBI's Online Campus, at www.onlinecle.pbi.org. More than 300 classes are available, including nearly 50 one-hour ethics programs. 24/7 CLE. You have received this message because you are listed with the Philadelphia Bar Association as a subscriber to the Bar Reporter Online. This message may contain commercial content. If you wish to add, modify or delete a Bar Reporter Online subscription, either send an e-mail to philadelphiabar@philabar.org, or go to listserve.philabar.org/mailman/listinfo/bro
Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-238-6300.